President of the Republic Joseph Aoun visited the Saida and Nabatiyeh Serail on Saturday morning to mark the launch of municipal elections in South Lebanon.
“Today, we celebrate not only the anniversary of the Liberation, but also democracy and the power of making the right choice,” he declared, hailing the holding of elections in a region marked by war.
“The fact that elections are taking place in the South, despite the destruction and suffering caused by the war, proves that the will to live is stronger than ever,” he stressed.
The head of state then cast his ballot for the first time in his life in his hometown of Aichiyeh (Jezzine caza). “For forty years, I protected elections. This is the first time I’ve ever voted, and my vote goes to the children of my village,” he said.
This vote was largely symbolic, as the municipal council of Aichiyeh had already been elected by default on Friday night, on the eve of the elections.
“For me, whoever wins will represent me,” he added, while urging citizens to take part in the vote.
“There are guarantees in place, and I invite everyone to vote massively. The vote should serve the development of the village, not individuals,” he insisted.
He also emphasized that “the will to resist is the will to live,” and that it is “stronger than death.” “The will to build always prevails over destruction,” he reiterated.
Aoun went on to call on “every citizen to vote for those who represent them in terms of development, those who recognize the sacrifices made, and those who will contribute to reconstruction.”
He also congratulated the elected officials: “You were chosen to serve the children of your villages, not to turn them into your servants. You must live up to the responsibility and trust placed in you. The position you hold is not a privilege, but a responsibility in service of the development of your communities.”
He further praised “the work of the security forces and their close monitoring” of the electoral process.
“We hope the elections conclude smoothly and help pave the way for the parliamentary elections scheduled for next year,” he concluded.
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